Jan 30 Vanguard Photo Vesta Mini Tripod review

What Vanguard Photo say:

The VESTA TT1 aluminum table top tripod kit in black pearl with smartphone holder is a small ergonomic stable tabletop tripod capable of holding smartphones, sport optics and supporting cameras up to 2kg/4.4 lbs.

Quickly set up this table top tripod to take a shot or get into the shot! The unique leg deployment system allows for quick set-up and take down. Set the TT1 on a table or use it while leaning against a wall. You can also use this sturdy little tripod as a hand-held camera stabilizer by simply attaching a smartphone, small mirrorless (CSC) camera or small lightweight DSLR. Keep the legs folded and voila instant hand-held stabilizer. Less shake equals better quality video and still images!

Use this small easy-to-transport tabletop tripod with smartphone holder to watch your favorite images, movies or video clips while on the go. Keep the smartphone holder on the tripod or use it on its own with the built-in little flip-stand. Whether you travel by plane or train never worry about looking for something to prop up your smartphone!

The VESTA TT1 aluminum table top tripod kit in black pearl with smartphone holder is a small ergonomic stable tabletop tripod capable of holding smartphones and supporting cameras up to 2kg/ 4.4 lbs. Excellent quality for the engaging image maker!

Small ergonomic ball head with ¼”-20 camera screw

Complete with smart phone holder to hold phones up 3.4in./8.7cm

Unique leg opening system designed to open or close all legs in one motion

Anti-slip rubber feet

Supports load capacities up to 2kg/4.4lbs

Available in Black, Rose, Champagne and White

Olympus OM-D EM-5mkII with 40-150mm f/2.8 Pro lens: Weight = 1360g

Olympus OM-D EM-5mkII with 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro lens: Weight = 880g

Out on Review:

Immediately when you see this little tripod you can’t help but think how cute and small it is. It’s especially handy as it can fit inside your pocket, it’s no larger than smart phone but yet can handle weights up to 2kg which is most small DSLR and CSC systems but how much use can you get out of a small table tripod like this? Factor in the fairly high price of £35 for the mini tripod, to compare you’re a third of the way to buying a Vanguard Veo2 tripod. (Full retail price)

Beyond the obvious of this very portable, pocket sized tripod you can use it in many locations tripods aren’t welcome such as museums or at the top of towers as seen with Vanguard Photo ambassador Mark Duffy when he visited the Empire State Building or using the tripod to hold a Lensball to create a different perspective and composition. Vanguard Photo ambassador, Dave Zdanowicz recently shared images using the mini tripod as a light stand and holding flash guns on a shoot.

So clearly it’s not just for cameras and can get plenty of uses for holding other photographic equipment to make your life easier on a shoot. Although the Vanguard Photo Alta Pro2+ and Veo2 tripods can go low with the low level adapters but not as low as this mini tripod which if you are a macro photographer or a designer like myself where you are photographing products on table tops, can be especially helpful.

Olympus OM-D EM-5mkII with 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro lens: Weight = 880g

Olympus OM-D EM-5mkII with 40-150mm f/2.8 Pro lens: Weight = 1360g

Olympus OM-D EM-5mkII with 40-150mm f/2.8 Pro lens: Weight = 1360g

Olympus OM-D EM-5mkII with 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro lens: Weight = 880g

Olympus OM-D EM-5mkII with 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro lens: Weight = 880g

The Vesta TTi mini tripod has an aluminium body with one pin control to adjust head which is a standard 1/4” screw like on the base of your camera. As the body is made of metal it feels solid in the hand and after much use in the outdoors it’s faced mud, sand, snow and 90mph gusts, taking a fair battering and suffered a few scratches but nothing to call for concern and still completely useable.

As it’s only small it fits very comfortable in your hand, making a handy grip for smaller systems like my OM-D EM-5 mkII and makes for a handy tool if you’re a vlogger, giving you a solid platform to video from. As you might had guessed, due to the metal body, in cold weather the legs can become a little cold so gloves were needed when I took the tripod out in the snow.

The legs work as one piece and fold out in sync, rather than individually so you can place the mini tripod in awkward positions like the bigger tripods. It would had been nice to see the legs work independently but this would had likely increased the size and weight of the Vesta mini tripod somewhat and likely meant it was no longer pocket sized. In all, I think it’s a fair trade off, sacrificing this nice to have to gain the pocket size option which you can literally take anywhere with you. Since buying mine, it has lived in my bag ever since and I don’t go anywhere without it, even if I don’t bring a camera I use the mobile phone adapter to help with stability.

The phone grip itself isn’t up to same build quality has the mini tripod. When you compare the solid feel of the metal legs on the Vesta TTi to this plastic grip you can’t help notice the contrast in the materials which the plastic makes it feel a little cheap but so far I have yet to have any issues with the phone grip. Trying to get the phone grip on in the first place is a little challenging, this is possibly because it’s new but it’s very stiff when you slide the cradle out to grip the body of the phone. Trying to do this with one hand, while holding your phone to place inside the cradle is the challenge, since putting the cradle on however, I have yet to remove it and just left it on.

It does make your pocket bulge out a little from the grip on the case but for ease or pure laziness I have just left it on. The phone grip also has a kick stand build in which holds the phone up, perfect for sitting on a desk whilst working away on a computer. The grip only fits across the width of the phone not height so if you want to use the stand in landscape you need to use the tripods mini ball head to do this. Much like you would if you didn’t have a L Bracket on a camera.

On another note if you use a Popsocket or holding device on the rear of your phone case you will find this obstructs the rear of the phone and means you have limited placement for the grip, you can’t put the grip over the top of the holding devices as the grip doesn’t have enough length on the arms to grip around the body of the phone. So it’s one or the other not both. However, the Vesta TTi phone grip does act as a grip which I’ve found more helpful with larger hands.

Olympus OM-D EM-5mkII with 40-150mm f/2.8 Pro lens: Weight = 1360g

Olympus OM-D EM-5mkII with 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro lens: Weight = 880g

Olympus OM-D EM-5mkII with 40-150mm f/2.8 Pro lens: Weight = 1360g

Olympus OM-D EM-5mkII with 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro lens: Weight = 880g

You may have noticed on the pictures in the review are captions with my camera, lens and total weights.The most I’ve got up to is only 1.4kg which isn’t far off it’s total capacity and at this weight I have had no issues with the Vesta mini ball head and legs toppling or feeling loose. The images aren’t anything special and the subject some what boring but to test I had the Vesta mini tripod on uneven ground, running a long exposure of 30 seconds with a wide angle and telephoto and neither has any camera shake or issues standing for this long.

I ran this test again on my trip to South Snowdonia, on Barmouth beach using the telephoto lens and a 20 second exposure in stormy conditions. Again, no issues or camera shake from the tripod moving. Again in South Snowdonia on Cadair Idris by Llyn Cau I opted to use the Vesta mini tripod, not expecting it would stand up in the 90mph gusts we were being battered by.

The mini tripod turned out the be the best option, getting lower meant more stability, where my Veo2 tripod had previously been blown over in the gusts.In the brief moment I could get by the shore line I managed to capture a one second exposure of the mountain lake with the peak behind. So, yes it might be small but it can still get plenty of uses in the most unlikely of locations and conditions.

The mini tripod does have some grip to the feet, only small but do the job on uneven surfaces. Not enough to stop the tripod from sliding off slanted surfaces or rocks but enough to keep you stable on the ground. As the legs only work in two positions - Closed or open you can’t balance the legs half way as the weight and grips don’t work so you do have limited options in height and legs. Not an issue and can be easy to get around but worth baring in mind if you try to be a little more creative.

To finish, although the Vesta mini tripod may seem pricey for what it is, at £35 it’s a tripod that you can literally take anywhere with you and fits nicely in to your trouser or jacket pocket and can go unnoticed. It’s lightweight yet a solid metal build and despite the phone grip being plastic and may seem lacklustre in comparison neither will disappoint and can get plenty of uses as a tool or support system, whether it be for a flash unit, lens ball, camera or phone and makes for a better grip when using smaller compact cameras.

2kg is plenty for what most photographers will require, I’ve really abused mine and thrown it about and not worried to much about the weight limit and yet it remains solid. Sometimes the simplest of designs and products can be the best.

My Vesta TTi will certainly stay on me where ever I go for pure ease verse a full sized tripod. Between a Vesta TTi and a Veo2 you can cover all bases needed in a variety of locations, making for a great outdoors/travel set up. There is no need to compromise any more in order to reduce weight.

Transparency Notice: Please note that I am a Vanguard Photo UK brand ambassador and receive the products for free to review from Vanguard Photo UK and are returned after completing the review. The review is no guarantee of endorsement. I receive no monetary gain from Vanguard Photo from the reviews or discount codes. Any Vanguard kit I own has been bought by myself.The Vanguard Vesta TTi mini tripod was purchased with my ambassador’s discount.

Hello, my name is Matt Holland (b. 1992). I'm a Berkshire based creative designer, digital media specialist and outdoor enthusiast. I have always been interested in photography starting off with film and darkrooms, this interest is what started my path in design and later studying at Bath Spa University (BA Hons Creative Arts and Visual Design). I have collaborated with brands such as HTC, O2 Academy, Heineken, Bulmers, National Trust and Channel 4 and my work has been featured in: Adobe Photoshop (PS25under25), Computer Arts, DesignCrowd, Talenthouse, Amateur Photographer, BBC Weather, VisitWales, Countryfile, OlympusUK, GoOutdoors, The Great Outdoors Magazine, The Rucksack Magazine, National Trust, Royal Horticultural Society, International Garden Photographer of the Year and The Photography Show UK.

Hello, my name is Matt Holland (b. 1992). I'm a Berkshire based creative designer, digital media specialist and outdoor enthusiast. I have always been interested in photography starting off with film and darkrooms, this interest is what started my path in design and later studying at Bath Spa University (BA Hons Creative Arts and Visual Design). I have collaborated with brands such as HTC, O2 Academy, Heineken, Bulmers, National Trust and Channel 4 and my work has been featured in: Adobe Photoshop (PS25under25), Computer Arts, DesignCrowd, Talenthouse, Amateur Photographer, BBC Weather, VisitWales, Countryfile, OlympusUK, GoOutdoors, The Great Outdoors Magazine, The Rucksack Magazine, National Trust, Royal Horticultural Society, International Garden Photographer of the Year and The Photography Show UK.